Cost of Deinstitutionalization

A quick review of the hospital data from the Washington State Hospital Association provided the information below. Granted this is far from a thorough review of the information but it does provide some insight into the problem that has been addressed by the DD Ombudsman and the recent issue at Mason General Hospital regarding the “dumping” of people with IDD at the hospitals when community care providers are unable to provide the contracted care.

This data is only for numbers of people discharged (therefore does not include people in the Emergency Departments or people that were on “observation”). It also does not state the reason for admission but does report the service provided. For my review, I chose the service “Organic disturbances and Intellectual disability”

June 2017 – June 2018

total discharges

967

average cost per discharge

$75,332

average number of days for each person

20.3

average cost per day

$3,709

Total cost for the year for these 967 people who were discharged was

$72.8 Million Dollars

Wow – think how much better spent that money would be and how much better off these people would be if that money was used wisely for a full continuum of care – meaning the RHCs, local crisis stabilization, respite and supported living

This waste of money is what the “deinstitutionalization” craze has caused. Since these costs are not paid for from the DSHS or DDA budget, they are not counted in the cost of care for those with IDD – If I am wrong about this, please let me know and show me the sources.

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